Hitching-clamp or holdfast



J. P. SINCLAIR,

Hitching Clamp. 7 No. 59,085. Patented Oct. 23, .1866.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. SINCLAIR, OF MILLPOBT, NEW YORK.

HlTCHING-CLAMP OR HOLDFAST.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,085, dated October 23, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. SINCLAIR, of Millport, in the county of Ohemung and State of New York, have invented an Improved Hitching-Olamp or 'Holdfast; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use thei'szfine, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of the clamp with a strap attached. Fig. 2 is across-section of one end.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The nature of my invention consistsin mak' ing a cheap, strong, and simple iron clamp for hitching horses with a strap or halter, securin g boats by lines for towing or tying up, fastening clotheslines, or for any other purpose required wherein a rope or a strap of any kind needs a strong temporary attachment, which will not give way by pulling upon it, while at the same time it may be easily and instantly fastened and unfastened without tying or knotting. For these various uses, from the tying up of a shift with a cord to the mooring of a man-ofiwar with a cable, this instrument may be applied effectively. It may be made of any size suitable to its application.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1, A is the base or body of the clamp--a long plate of castiron of irregular form, designed to be fastened to a post or other object by means of screwbolts at a a. At one end of the body of the clamp is a segment of a ratchet-wheel, with teeth I) b, and at the other end, on the same side, is a wide upright stud, c, the inner side of which is the arc of a circle.

B is a lever, the long arm of which terminates in a pawl, and the fulcrum of which is a perpendicular post or screw-bolt, e, the head being cast in or otherwise secured to the base A. On the upper end of it is a nut, s, to fast en the lever B. The axis and short arm of the lever is a solid body of iron, in the form of a cone, with a spreading plate, (I, on the end, the faceof which is a circular arc,corresponding to the inner side of the stud c. The face or end of the short arm of the lever may be made smooth or corrugated, and uniform in its distance from the face of the stud c, or with an offset, making the space separating them wider and narrower above and below, for the purpose of adaptation to ropes and straps of different sizes, to be applied as hereinafter ex- .plained.

The long arm of the lever Bis curved down ward, terminating in a point or pawl, f, which catches in the ratchet-teeth b b. A spring may be attached to keep the pawl in place.

The operation of the clamp is by moving the lever B forward to the right until the eccentric circular face of the plate d on the end of the short arm of the lever B is as far from the inner side of the stud c as may be required for admitting the rope or strap, D, which is to be fastened. The lever is then brought back upon the ratchet, and the pawl f catches in the teeth 12 b, when it is drawn back to squeeze the rope or strap between the plate d and thestud c, and there hold it fast. The harder the rope is pulled the tighter it is held. To release the rope or strap it is only necessary to lift the lever B so as to let up the pawl from the ratchet.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettors Patent, is-

The hitching-clamp or holdfast constructed and applied in the manner described, for the purpose specified.

JAMES P. SINCLAIR.

' Witnesses:

MosEs COLE, JANE CoLn. 

